In Ukraine, the United States seeks an outcome that may not be achievable; in Gaza, U.S. policy needs to transcend the immediate crisis and recast the basic dynamics of the conflict. Finding out whether these crises have seeds of opportunity within them is the purpose of foreign policy. Read the op-ed »

The Israel-Gaza Crisis

Unless the United States and allies better understand Hamas, they cannot help halt the killings of Israelis and Arabs in the Middle East. Hamas is not only a terrorist group, but also a social movement, with a mass membership, a popular message of resistance that resonates across the Muslim world, and a political party that must have a seat at the negotiating table. Read the op-ed »

Unable to pay the salaries of its people, Hamas turned to war with the hope of getting the "international community" to fund a reconstruction plan for Gaza. It remains to be seen how Hamas's bet will pay off, but with Egyptian, Saudi, and Emirati attitudes in opposition to Hamas, maybe the United States could help the people of Gaza without enriching the terrorists who use them as cannon fodder. Read more on Pressure Points »

Hamas is the main Palestinian armed resistance group, but the Islamist movement has struggled with governance since assuming control of Gaza. This Backgrounder chronicles the group's origins and mission. Read the Backgrounder »

In its effort to stave off advances made by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the United States is providing both firepower and targeting intelligence for Iraqi airstrikes against suspected ISIS militants. This does not make them direct U.S. airstrikes, but officials and policymakers should demand that the Iraqi government be held accountable for how it uses U.S.-supplied missiles and intelligence. Read more on Politics, Power, and Preventive Action »

The focus of this week's U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit—economic investment in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa—has changed the narrative of how the United States perceives of and engages with the continent. But, if the Obama administration is serious about the United States being "central" to the economic development of Africa, it should emphasize the important role of human rights after the summit ends. Read more on Politics, Power, and Preventive Action »

In this week's podcast, Lindsay and McMahon discuss Turkey's presidential elections, the fourtieth anniversary of President Richard Nixon's resignation, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Crimea. Listen to the podcast »

While Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's actions may appear crazy to outsiders, he is actually a rational and sane politician who is astutely advancing his agenda, which is to become Turkey's next president. Read the op-ed »

With Russian forces continuing to build up along the Ukrainian border, it appears that sanctions against Russia and assistance to Ukraine have not deterred Russian president Vladimir Putin's provocative military posturing. The deepening conflict will only be averted if Putin is convinced that invasion will be costly and potentially humiliating. Read more on Defense in Depth »

Although the modern NATO is generally recognized for its role beyond Europe, Russian actions in recent years have refocused the alliance's attention on the continent. Recent developments have also exposed unresolved tensions over NATO's expansion into the former Soviet sphere. Read the Backgrounder »

With comprehensive immigration reform effectively dead in Congress, some U.S. state and local leaders are advocating for smaller-scale regional initiatives. These leaders could learn from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which takes a regional approach that allows the province to compete with Toronto and Montreal for immigrants that strengthen its workforce and revitalize its rural communities. Read more on Renewing America »

More than 50 percent of the world's population is cut off from financial services, such as credit, savings, and loans needed to start new businesses, grow emerging markets, and tap into the global economy. The emergence of Bitcoin provides a viable alternative that may equalize market opportunities and support more inclusive economic growth. Read more on Development Channel »